Bulldogs Fall to No. 5 Saints 3-0

New Haven, CT -
Yale came up short in its bid to knock off No. 5 St. Lawrence Friday night at Ingalls Rink, as two third-period goals helped the Saints pull out a 3-0 win. Meaghan Guckian made 33 saves to deny the Bulldogs, who were looking for their fourth win against a top-ten team this season.

Yale came out strong, as Nicole Symington drew a hooking penalty on Laurie Ross on a breakaway a minute in. The Bulldogs had several good shots on that power play but were denied by Guckian. An early 5-1 lead in shots for the Blue gave way to a more evenly played period, and St. Lawrence had a chance to seize control when the Saints got a 5-on-3 with 2:29 left in the first. But the Yale penalty kill rose to the occasion, with Yale defenders blocking several shots and Sarah Love stopping the three that came her way. The teams entered intermission scoreless, but a penalty on St. Lawrence's Annie Guay .7 seconds before the break allowed Yale to start the second on the power play.

Guckian stopped all three shots on that power play to open the period, and the game remained a back-and-forth affair until St. Lawrence's Chelsea Grills was able to knock one past Love at the 8:55 mark. The Saints had a golden chance to increase that lead just under four minutes later on a breakaway, but Yale captain Erin Duggan raced back and came diving over from the other side of the ice to knock the puck away, eliciting loud cheers from the Ingalls crowd. The St. Lawrence lead stayed stuck at one entering the third.

The Bulldogs had their best chance to tie the game less than 20 seconds into the period but missed by literally inches, as Jenna Spring's tip attempt hit the post to Guckian's right. Just over a minute later the Bulldogs got a scare when Love, who had come far out of the crease attempting to poke the puck away, was knocked to the ground and lay there face down and motionless for several moments. She eventually got back on her feet and resumed her duties, making a nice save on a Katherine Smithson shot just minutes later. Yale had two more power play opportunities but could not solve Guckian, and a goal by Sabrina Harbec with 4:58 to play provided the necessary insurance. In need of a spark, Yale head coach Hilary Witt pulled Love with 1:56 to play but a turnover in the Yale end gave the Saints' Emily Berlinguette an easy shot at the empty net for the 3-0 final.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday afternoon against Clarkson at 4:00 at Ingalls Rink. It is Alumnae Day and Youth Day, with raffles, face painting, a post-game autograph session and free Yale hockey guides for all children in attendance.